Goaline Stand

Saturday, November 23

Stewart Stadium

12 p.m.

Murray State

6-6 , 4-4

Eastern Kentucky

6-6 , 4-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Eastern Ky.

Murray St.

Jesse Blackburn hauled in the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Eastern Kentucky.

Photo by: Kyser Lough/Ledger & Times

11/23/2013 1:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score

| BOX SCORE (.pdf) | 1st HALF GALLERY | 2nd HALF GALLERY

The question surrounding the Murray State football program has been its defense. But, on this day, it was the defense that made the biggest play of the game as they stopped Eastern Kentucky on fourth down at the goaline in overtime to secure a 34-27 victory in the 2013 season finale at Stewart Stadium.

The Racers (6-6, 4-4 OVC) got the ball to start overtime and lost a yard on their first two plays. They then went deep into their bag of tricks and made the call for Big Boy. Maikhail Miller handed the ball off to Jaamal Berry, who gave it to Paul Rice on the reverse. Rice then pitched it bag to Miller, who found Jesse Blackburn in the endzone for the 26-yard touchdown.

The Colonels (6-6, 4-4 OVC) faced a 4th-and-2 on their overtime possession, but quarterback Jared McClain was able to escape and pick up the first down. They then got a first-down run that set up the Colonels on the four. The Racer defense forced another fourth-down situation, but his time the interior line stopped the quarterback just shy of the goaline for the victory.

The victory marked the first time since 2004 that the Racers have defeated EKU, and the first victory over the Colonels at Stewart Stadium since 1999. The win was also the first time in school history the Racers have defeated EKU and Jacksonville State in the same season.

The combination of Miller to Blackburn was working all afternoon as the duo connected nine times for 170 yards and a pair of scores. Blackburn was not the only receiver to have a big day as Rice added nine grabs for 124 yards. Miller finished the day 37-of-54 for 467 yards and two touchdowns.

Trailing by seven six to start the second half, the Racers need six plays on their first possession to take the lead. Miller found Blackburn for 31 yards, and followed it up with a 41-yard strike to Rice to set up first-and-goal. On second down, Miller hit Blackburn in the back of the endzone for the two-yard touchdown.

After forcing EKU to punt on each of its first four possessions of the second half, the Racers took over deep inside their own territory. Facing fourth down at their own 13, the Racers lined up in punt formation. The Colonels blocked the punt, but Steven Mix scooped up the ball and raced 11 yards to pick up the first down. MSU would get a 40-yard catch by Blackburn to help set up a Marc Wynstra 26-yar field goal on the drive.

The Colonels then punted on their fifth-straight possession of the half, and the Racers again turned it into points with a 25-yard Wynstra field goal.

EKU finally got its offense going on the final drive of the game as they drove 64 yards and got a one-yard Thomas Owens touchdown run with 46 seconds remaining.

The Racers jumped out to an early lead as they marched 75 yards on the opening possession of the game and scored on a Miller three-yard touchdown run. EKU took advantage of a pair of Racer turnovers to get two field goals from Andrew Lloyd.

EKU would score on the ground and through the air in the second quarter, but the Racers split that with the second rushing touchdown of the game from Miller to send the teams to recess with MSU trailing 20-14.

Brandon Wicks led the strong effort by the defense as he recorded 14 tackles. Perry Cooper added 12 tackles and Darrian Skinner 11. Travis Taylor registered two of the team's four sacks.